Spring construction for vehicles



Jah.. 23, 1923, 1,443,139, vH. M. LovEJoY.

SPRING CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICLES.

FILED MAY 25.1918.

Patented lamd naitre in. Loviiioir, on iiiniennirn; nnw nraiaiesnrien.`

SPRING CONSTRUCTON JElOR VEHICLES.

i Application led May 25,

To all 'whom t may concern:

`Be it known that l, Rami-i M. Loi/mov, a citiaen ofthe United States, and resident oif lt/lereditlncounty yof Belknap,` State ci `llew Hampshire, have invented an In provement in Spring Constructions `torl7`eliicles, o'l which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is ai specification, like characters" on the drawing representing like parts.

rlhis invention lrelates to improvements in spring constructions Yfor yvehicles and is illustrated herein asapplied to the trame of an automobile.

"lhe principal object oit the :invention is i `to provide means tor reducing the torsional strains iin iosed u on the s rin ys and trame i chine having means Jior preventing dust :from entering between the ends of the leaves of the spring.

Another `object of the invention is tto provide a novel spring structure which will tions of a vehicle frame., the central portion being broken away," showing spring conpermit the use of Hat springs and provide 'For `greater strength and also greater rei silience than inthe usual spring structures.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the tollowing description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

. lin the drawings:

Figi l is a side elevation of the endporstructions embodying my invention secured thereto,

` Fig. 2 isa detailside elevation ofthe end oit a Ytraine showing a preferred form` of shackle embodying my 4invention .secured to the end portion of a spring,`

`lFig. 3 lis an `end view ot the same showing the connection of the shackle to the iframe and spring, said frameand spring being illustrated in section. i i i i The `present invention is designed to preef wie. semina- 236,461]

vent `or relieve "torsional, strain upon the `trames `and springs oi vehicles 1n which the frainescomprise side bars extending lon-`- gitudinally olf the vehicle to which the springs are pivotally connected at one end, @ne end of each spring; of course, is con# nected to the .iframe `by a link for shackle to provide 'lilithe longitudinal extension ci the spring during its lexure.

lnusual` constructionsl the pivotal sup ports for the ends oi the spring clamp tightly against the edges of the spring and the outer ends ofsaid supports also are iixedly secured `against lateral movement. Usually the links or shackles which connect the ends ot the spring to the frame are provided with bolts which may be set up from time to time and special mechanisms have been devised for enabling these bolts to be so i set as to take up wear and thereby to `prevent rattling. A

ln some instances springs are used to take up the wear automatically. In all such `cases however, thek spring and frame are subjected tosevere torsional strainffor during the running of the vehicle first' one end oit the Xle and then the other will be raised by reason of the unevenness of the road, thus causing iii-st one spring to litt and then the other.

This alternate and uneven raisingjof the spring causes a lateral movement of the spring relatively to the side pieces of the trames towhich they `are secured which either twists the spring or the frame or both. This twisting movement of the traine is imposed through the shackles and their supports which connect the springs to the trame and in a shorttime will cause sui'li-` cient wear to produce an` annoying rattling as the end of the spring vibrates back and forth .between the side members of the shackle. 1 i 4 rThe present invention contemplates broadly the provision ofmeans for supporting the :frame upon theaXle ot the vehicle which will permita lateral tree movement sucient to tion in which the springs are riglidly connectedfat one end, preferably at t eir inner I ends, to "the traine and rigidly connected to the axle or aXle housing intermediate of their ends, the freeends of thespring being flexibly connected tothe frame. ln its preferred construction this-'is accomplished by providing one or morelongleaves with a f series oi progressively shorterleaves super# imposed upon theend which is rigidly connectedv to tlieffraineand abuilt-up interniedi'ate portion comprising a series of sup'erimposed4 progressively shorter leaves r`"connected centrally together and to the aXle orariehousing7 theend oi'the longf'leaic being connected by ashackleto the frame, so' that they portion oi the spring between the built-up sections will beef less rigidity f Athan theanchored end or intermediate por- `tion and. consequently capable ofa sinuous llexure intermediate of the vbuilt-up portions.. l v f Iliisrnayy be accomplished invarious other' ways. A prefer 1ed inechani'srn coniprises the. novel forni 'of 'shackle whiifh is illustrated in Figs. l, 2 andf. v v

l vThe lniechanis'indisclosed iny 1 coni- .prises airarnel having` 'the usual'longitudi- .identicalin construction, to the ends of the traine 1.v A preferred ,form of shackle constfructionfor-thns'supporting the outer ends -c-'f the spring is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. iis

illustrated in these `ligures the ends ot the flirafrne f1 are provided with U-shaped recesses* 9 to receive the 'ends'of the shackles.

tlie'jwalls o'ic saidfrecesses being provided `With bosses'lt) `and 11 which 'are apei'tnred transversely'to i'ecieiv'eL the bolts 12 vfor supporting" the upper ends otfthe shackles. The

.,i shackles `desira-blyare in the form of links having-transverse aperti'ires to receive the l"bolts l2, the 'spacing washers 13 `preti-zrably beingplacedbetween the walls of the recess land the' sides ofthe links' to' :prevent lat- The lnwer'fends I'oitithe yshackles are providedwyith' *hollow heads '145 having laterall.Y

entend' no'sesl', v"the Inoses having` prei!- e'ra'bly rectangular :openings 16 through which he'fendsof thespring's may be `inextend' 'oiiitwaii'dly a'V 7considerable distance and 'are; provided respe'c'tivelyA with. vbosses 19, 2O which are a-peitnrcd to reci-ive bolts 91 which pass through the usual eyes in thc ends olf the springs 22.

The walls l?. 18 olf the head are spaced a suflicient distance apart to allow aniplrr clearance spaces {.l, 2l between the edges ol' the spring and the wallsl l itl so that neither wall will be struck b v the sprins: during the uneven raising' and lowering: oiy the ends et the springs.

ily this construction torsional .drains upon the s ii and the 'traine are climi*- natefl or at liesV i'ediurcd to a. niinininni for it will lie obfious that when one end oi" the axle remains statioiniry and the other is, 'sin'ldcnly raised or lowered by reason ol the wl running ove;l an obstruction or drop ping into hollow thc end ot the axle car riedy by the wheel thus raised or dromied will swing` through an arc` havin.;r a renter inthe hub oi' the other wheel.

` This niovenient will tend either to extend or to retract the outer end oi the axle. 'l`he springs it rigidly connected lo the 'traine ai,

both ends will tend to risc upon a chord ol' said arc and consequentl \v cause a torsional strain upon the spring or `traine or both. Ey niy invention however, the lateral inovcnient permitted between the eii'ds oli` the springs andthe walls of the shackle enables thel ends oi the springs to move laterally vrelatively to the frame a sul'licient distance to compensate lor the arcuate nioveincnt ot the end oli' the axle and tln-i'cby to relieve the toi'sional'sti'ain upon the springs and traine.

By constructing' theshachle in the inanner aforesaid and providing a` hollow closed head toreceive the `ends ot' the spring the dust may be easily excluded from the pivotal connection between the spring and sha cklc. y

A conv'enieiit incans `'oil accoinplishiup' this purpose consists in prnvidingr the nos.' which extends laterally troni the head with a circuniferent-iai groove over which the enlargijed end of a boot QG .maiv be drawn and clainped therein by a cord oi' wire 27. The lboot QG may be inailc of leather, canvasl or other tlexibleniaterial and preferably is of suliicient length to embrace and 'inc'lose thee'nds` oit thefleaves ol the spring. the outer end o the boot beingclanipcd upon said springb-y av cord or wire 28.

ln Fig "l a preferred ioi'in ol` spring` adapted to be utilized in accordance with nry inventionis illustrated, said spring being so constructed as to give a inininiuin amount ot resilience and a maximum amount of strength. The springalso is designed as a fiat spring which will enable the body of the vehicle lto be carried "as'low as possible. The spring` illustrated herein comprises a long leaf having 'at 'its outer end an eye adapted to engage the pin. 21 of the shackle lill ll fi lll) infie.

The central portion ol said spii` j; is ccn nected to the axle housing' by usuafV il bolts 7i); 'which also clamp to said axle a series ot progressively shorter leaves T3, 741s., T5, etc. it its opposite end the lola.; lect TO is seciui'ed to the bracket "1', a series oi progressively shorter leaves 76, 7l", iti beinginterpf sed between the long leaf 'Tl and the bracket 7 and secured to it by ll-bolts 79, said leaves also beingv secured together by the usual clamps 8O.`

This construction comprises in eii'ect a usual lilat spring; and an overlapping.halt oil? a ilatsprinn', the` latter being' rigidly secured to the trame. llllhen a weight is imposed upon the spring thus constructed it will bend in asinuous curve instead of the usual arch shaped curve and the resulting; :ushioningg` movement will be more effective.

lily reason oiI the construction above described an improved Hotchkiss type of drive through the spring` is provided which eliminates the rattling caused by the tendency ot the axle to move forwardly and backwardly during' the driving'. and braking' operations respectively. This construction also allows ttor the driving' torque to be carried by the spring without the necessity o'f using torque tubes.

ln the well known type of Hotchkiss drive the trent end ott the rear spring` is pivotally connected to the frame, usually by an eye in the end ot the spring' mounted upon a pin which is carried by a bracket rigidly secured to the trame. The opposite or rear end ot the spring is connected by a shackle to the trame. rlhe center ot the spring is bolted rigjidly to the axle housing'. The rear axle is driven through the usual differential. When driving' power is applied the axle tends to move forward relatively to the trame and when an obstruction is met by the wheels, or when the brakes are applied, the axle tends to move rearwardly relatively to the trame. These movements cause execs sive wear upon the pivotal connections of the spring eye to the frame which results very quickly in serious rattling and requires trequent replacement ot the pin or the usual bushing; in the spring; eye or both. By the present invention the use ot a pivotal connection to the frame is eliminated so that there is no opportunity for wear and consequent rattling'.

lin the Hotchkiss type of drive the driving; torque, which is transmitted to the wheel axles through the differential, impose-s a tendency upon the axle housing to rotate about the axis ot the driving; axle. This tendency to rotate is resisted by the springs which are secured to the axle housing. By the present construction the built-up spring, which is rigidly attached at one end to the trame and flexibly attached at its free end to the trarne, is adapted to resist effectively the ,lling driif'inrg torque, whereas in previouc-i conm striuztious, in which one end ot a spring' has been attached rigidly to the irame, means have been required to permit a lrotative movement. between the spring: and the axle housing; o t the d rivinnl axle, and a torque rod independent oi the serine' has been required to resist the torque caused by the rotative movement ot the driving axle.

The same spring construction may also be applied to the :trent axle, as illustrated herein, and its use upon the trent axle will be hipjhly advantageous to resist the torque resultinnfrom thc use ot the 'front wheel brakes.

lt will be 'understood that the embodiments o'l' the invention herein are merely illustrative and not restrictive and that the principles ot the invention n'lay be adapted to other constructions and that the usual shackle constructions may be readily modilied to embody the principles disclosed herein Having; thus described my invent-ion what l claim new and desire to secure by lietters Patent is:

l. il.. .vel |ielc conniirisinlnj a iframe, an axle, a spr-iup; eonsistingot a long; leal and a plurality oit shorter leaves oit successively decreasing` length connected together and to said axle, a series ot leaves ot successively decreasing` length superposed upon one end oit said long lea-t and means for rigidly securing; the same together and also rigidly to the trame and a shackle connecting the other end ot the long; leaf to the frame having means for permitting` sufficient lateral movement between the spring; and the trame, to prevent t-he spring when subjected to torsional strain, from contacting with the wall of the shackle.

Q. A vehicle comprisingrn a iframe, an axle7 a springconsistingot a lonn' lea'l" and a plurality oit shorter leaves oi1 surcessively decreasing; length connected together and to said axle, a series ot leaves of successively decreasing; length superposed upon one end of said long' leaf and means for rigidly securing the same together and also rigidly to the trame and means flexibly connecting vthe other end of the long.,r leaf tothe frame.

3. A vehicle comprising a trame, an axle, a fiat spring consisting' of a long leaf, a plurality ot shorter leaves successively decreasing in length connected together and to said axle. a series ot leaves et successively decreasing length superposed upon one end ot l,aid long); lea-li, means 'for ri gidly securing; the saine together and also rigidly to said trame. an eye upon the other end ot said long` leat', and a shackle pivotally connected to the eye et' said long: leat and to the trame.

411. ln combination with a vehicle comprisingr a frame and an axle.` a pair of springs each comprising` a long leal` having at one end a plurality ot progressively shorter leaves rifi'idly seeured together and to said traine and intermediate et its ends7 a series et progressively shorter leaves rigidly se eared tobether and to said axle and ineans lily netmeeting the other end o't said fr; to said frame.

in a vehicle eoinprisinzeY a 'trame and an aigle, a spring consisting of a lon leaf and a plurality et superimjosed shorter leaves el successively decreasing; lenf'th connected substantially Centrally together and to said axle1 a series of leaves of successively de- Crear-ine)` length superiniliiosed upon the opposite side el: said long;- lea]c at one end rigidly Connected together and also rigidly sezfured to the traine, and ineans flexibly conneetingv the tree end oi said spring to the traine.

6i ln a vehicle .comprising a 'traine and an axle, a spring consisting` of a longleaf and plurality of superimposed shorter leaves o't successively decreasing' length connected suhstantially centrally together and to sai d axle, a seri s ot leaves of successively decreasing length superimposed upon the opposite side spi" et said long leaf` at one end rigidly connected together and also rigidly secured to the trarne and ineans tiexilily eonneeting the tree end et said spriilej to the trame, the superimposed .leaves whioh are i-,onneeted to the axle heiner loeated nearer the Atree end olt the spring` than to the end o'!l the spring which is rigidly anel'iored to the iralne.

T. ln a vehicle comprising` a rani. and an axlen a spring consisting ot a lone" lat and a plurality of superimposed shorter learesI of sueressively decreasing length connected substantially centrally together and to said axle, a series ot' leaves ot successively decreasing` length superimposed upon the op. posite side et said long leal at one end rigidly connected together and also rigidly secured to the traine. the adjacent ends of the superimposed leaves which engage the opposite sides o't the long` leat heine' of sui'iicient length to overlap, and ineens flexibly eonnecting the free end et said spring` to the trame.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my naine to this speeiiieation.

RALPH M. L( )V EJ( lY. 

